Jessica’s experience with breast cancer is one of strength, determination and giving back. A Susan G. Komen volunteer turned breast cancer survivor and fundraising champion, she has raised nearly $40,000 to support Komen’s mission to end breast cancer forever.
Jessica Patykula is no stranger to Komen. As a teenager, she volunteered for her first Race for the Cure to secure school service hours. She continued to volunteer and fundraise into adulthood and after the birth of her daughters.
The Breast Cancer Diagnosis that Changed Everything
It was in 2019, while she was still breastfeeding her youngest that she noticed an unusual lump.
“When you’re breastfeeding, there are always strange lumps and bumps, so I thought it was just a clogged milk duct,” she said. “I went in for a mammogram as a precaution. It came back clear, but since I have extremely dense breast tissue, I had an ultrasound.”
The ultrasound uncovered a suspicious mass, and a biopsy confirmed that Jessica had breast cancer.
“I had to stop breastfeeding immediately,” she said. “I think it was more painful for me than my daughter. She was a trooper and took to the change right off the bat.”
While waiting for her surgery, which consisted of a double mastectomy and simultaneous reconstruction, Jessica lost weight at a rapid rate.
“It didn’t matter what I ate; nothing was sticking. All the stress from the diagnosis and fear were factors in my weight loss,” she said. “By the time my mastectomy date rolled around, I was very thin, and my skin wasn’t very pliable, which made the reconstruction more difficult.”
A Critical Setback and Post-Surgery Complications
While at a post-op appointment just days after her surgery, Jessica was dealt a life-threatening blow: the tissue in her right breast was dying.
“I didn’t have time to process how scared I was,” she said. “That very day, I went straight from my doctor’s office to the hospital, where I began hyperbaric treatments.”
For the next 30 days, Jessica spent two to four hours a day in the hyperbaric chamber. “It literally saved my life because the chamber brought rich oxygen to the damaged tissue and basically reversed the damage,” she said. “My right side is completely normal. Doctors attributed the complication to how thin my skin was, which also meant I wasn’t a candidate for radiation.”
Facing a Second Breast Cancer Diagnosis
Over the next few years, scans came back clear. In 2021, Jessica faced a recurrence when she discovered a pea-sized lump along the scar line from her lymph node removal surgery. A biopsy confirmed it was breast cancer, leading to another surgery and 34 rounds of radiation treatment.
Turning Pain into Purpose with the MORE THAN PINK Walk
Throughout her experience, Jessica continued to support Komen, fundraising and participating in Komen’s West Palm Beach MORE THAN PINK Walk. “It was a surreal feeling going from receiving a fundraiser shirt to the pink survivor shirt,” she said. “I remember how awe-inspiring it was when I was a kid to see all these amazing women and survivors who are so strong in the face of breast cancer. Now I’m pink forever. It’s really a full circle moment.”
Jessica has raised nearly $40,000 through her participation in Komen events, and credits social media as her most successful tool for securing donations.
“Our Walk is in January, and I start fundraising in October during National Breast Cancer Awareness Month,” she said. “I highlight the people who have helped me reach my fundraising goals and share pictures from past events. I pause my fundraising during the holidays, but when January rolls around, I kick it into high gear and really push for those final donations.”
Competing for a Cause through Komen’s 24-Hour Fundraising Challenge
In 2024, she and fellow breast cancer survivor Lisa Chauhan competed in a 24-hour fundraising challenge.
The person who received the most donations within the challenge period earned an additional $500 donation from the MORE THAN PINK Walk national presenting sponsor, Bank of America. Jessica and Lisa led the challenge, often swapping positions on the leaderboard as the day went on.
“I have friends and family all over the country, so even though it was late in Florida, I could still get donations from people on the West Coast,” Jessica said. “The local Komen staff saw that Lisa and I were neck-and-neck, and they continued to encourage us to keep going. At one point, I even asked people to see if their parents or family members would contribute even the smallest amount to my fundraiser. The donations kept rolling in, and by the time I went to bed, my hands were shaking from texting so many people.”
A Fundraising Champion: Raising $18K to End Breast Cancer
Jessica’s fundraising strategy paid off, and when the challenge ended, she secured the most donations and earned the $500 credit from Bank of America. By leveraging her network and sharing her story during the 24-hour fundraising challenge, she raised over $18,000 for the 2024 Walk.
“I love competing and the fanfare around fundraising for the Walk,” she said. “The MORE THAN Pink Walk is like Christmas morning. It’s the best day of the year.”
The West Palm Beach MORE THAN PINK Walk is one of 49 fundraising walks held across the U.S. each year. Money raised supports Komen’s comprehensive, 360-degree approach to ending breast cancer through funding research, providing care, taking action and unifying communities. To find a MORE THAN PINK Walk in your area, visit komen.org/walk.
Statements and opinions expressed are that of the individual and do not express the views or opinions of Susan G. Komen. This information is being provided for educational purposes only and is not to be construed as medical advice. Persons with breast cancer should consult their health care provider with specific questions or concerns about their treatment.
